One hand operated umbrella capable of self-closing

ABSTRACT

A one hand operated umbrella capable of self-closing, including a center shaft of outer tube and inner tube, both of which are engaged with a spring pawl, a connector with an upper link and a lower within the shaft, and a handle with a button connected with the bottom of inner tube. While pushing the button, a slider of the umbrella will be released and to push the spring pawl inward to close and shorten automatically.

BACKGROUND OF THE SPECIFICATION

The present invention relates to a self-closing umbrella which can beoperated with one hand by means of pushing action of a hand forautomatic closing and shortening an umbrella.

Several types of automatic umbrellas which can be opened or closedautomatically have been disclosed in the past, to take for examples,U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,821, No. 4,534,374, No. 3,906,970, No. 3,856,030,and so on. In the prior art, all known umbrellas are only capable ofbeing opened or closed. The shaft must be manually shortened afterclosing the umbrella. It is obviously inconvenient for users to completethis action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of this present invention, therefore, to mitigateand/or obviate the abovementioned drawbacks in the manner set forth inthe detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

A primary objective of this invention is to provide a self closing andfolding umbrella, which can be operated by a single action of pushing abutton mounted on a handle of the umbrella.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a one handoperated self-closing umbrella, which is capable of being easily closedand shortened.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, and the features ofnovelty which are set forth in the claims annexed to and forming a partof this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an open embodiment in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view taken along lines A--A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view taken along circle B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view taken along circle C of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a semi-closed embodiment inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view taken along lines A--A of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a full closed embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the present inventionincludes a center shaft of an inner tube (3) and an outer tube (2). Aspring pawl (4) is connected within the inner tube (3) and has aprotrusion (41) on its top end. The top end of the inner tube (3) havinga side hole (31) is inserted into the bottom end having a side hole(21), while the protrusion (41) is engaged with two holes (21) and (31)to make an extended state of center shaft. A connector (1) with an upperlink (11) and a lower link (12) is provided in the center shaft, whereintwo links are slidable relating to the connector (1) but can not beseparated. A ring (13) is connected with the top of the upper link (11)and a key (14) is connected with the bottom of the lower link (12). Aslider (6) is slidably provided around the center shaft and has astopper (61) adapted to engage with a hole (22) on the outer tube (2) tomaintain an opened state of the umbrella. A crown (5) is connected withthe top of the outer tube (2) and adapted to pivotally connect with ribs(91), as shown in FIG. 2A. A second rib (92) is connected with a rib(91), wherein an oval hole (93) is formed on the second rib (92) andadapted to make a slidable connection, such as in FIG. 2B. A supportingrod (94) is pivotally connected at one end to the slider (6) and at theother end to an end rib (96). The folded end of the rib (91) isextendedly connected at the middle of the supporting rod (94).Accordingly, the umbrella has an arc form when it is opened.

A spring (15) connects its lower end with the top of the upper link (12)and its upper end with a pin which is laterally fixed on the upperportion of the outer tube (2). The ring (13) is fixed at the placebetween the ring-shaped top and a widened flange (16) of the upper link(12). A spring (17) connects its upper end with the ring (13) and lowerend with a hook (18) on the connector (1).

A handle (7) is connected with the bottom of the inner tube (3). Thehandle (7) has a side aperture (71) and the inner tube (3) has a sideslot (32). A button (8) has two pairs of flanges on both sides and isplaced within the aperture (71) of the handle (7) while remaining amoving space. The button (7) has an inner triangular chamber (82)opposite to the slot (32) of the inner tube (3). The key (14) isconnected with the bottom of the lower link (12) and has an inclinedportion adapted to pass through the slot (32) and to be received in thetriangular chamber (82).

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, in use, the umbrella is opened by depressingprotrusion (41) and with one hand, manually pushing outer tube (2) awayfrom handle (7) against the bias of springs (15) and (17) while holdingthe handle (7) with the other hand. One need only push the button (8) toclose and shorten the umbrella automatically. It can be understood thatthe triangular chamber (82) will force the piece (14) moving downwardwhen the button (8) is pushed. The lower link (12), the connector (1),the upper link (11), and the ring (13) are moved downward at the sametime, while the ring (13) is capable of pushing the stopper (61) outwardto release the engagement of the slider (6) which slides downward andthe umbrella is closed as shown in dot lines of FIG. 3. As the slider(6) slides down to contact with the protrusion (41) of the spring pawl(4) and to push the protrusion inward, the engagement between the outertube (2) and the inner tube (3) is released. Due to the elastic force ofthe springs (15) and (17), the connector (1), the lower link (12), thekey (14), and the inner tube (3) are forced upward to insert into theouter tube (2). The umbrella is thus capable of being closed andshortened automatically by a single touch of the button on the handle.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above inventionwithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanyingdrawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense. Thus, it will be appreciated that the drawings are exemplary of apreferred embodiment of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A one hand operated umbrella capable of self-closingincluding an inner tube and an outer tube defining a center shaft; aconnector inside the center shaft having an upper link and a lower link,wherein the two links are slidable relating to the connector but can notbe separated; a ring connected to the top of the upper link; a keyconnected to the bottom of the lower link; a slider slidably mounted onthe outer tube and having a stopper adapted to engage with a hole on theouter tube to maintain an opened state of the umbrella; and a crownbeing connected with the top of the outer tube and adapted to pivotallyconnect with ribs; characterized in thata spring pawl being connectedwithin the inner tube and having a protrusion on its top end, the topend of the inner tube having a side hole being inserted into the bottomend of the outer tube having a side hole, and the protrusion engagingwith the two holes to make an extended state of the center shaft; asecond rib being relatively connected with one of the ribs, wherein ahole is formed on the second rib and adapted to make a slidableconnection with the one rib, and a supporting rod being pivotallyconnected at one end to the slider, and at the other end to an end rib,the folded end of the rib being extendedly connected with the middle ofthe supporting rod; a spring connecting its lower end with the top ofthe upper link and its upper end with a pin which is laterally fixed onan upper portion of the outer tube, and the ring being fixed at theplace between a ring-shaped top and a widened flange of the upper link,and a second spring connecting its upper end with the ring and its lowerend with a hook on the connector; a handle being connected with thebottom of the inner tube and having a side aperture; the inner tubehaving a side slot; a button having two pairs of flanges on both sidesand positioned within the aperture of the handle, the botton also havingan inner triangular chamber opposite the slot of the inner tube; and thekey being connected with the bottom of the lower link and having aninclined portion adapted to pass through the slot and to be received inthe triangular chamber.